Air-supply-regulating valve



L. KoBAsH 1,732,897

Oct. 22, 1929.

AIR SUPPLY REGUISATING VALVE Filed Feb'. 7. 1925 lNVENToR:

fou- M1 ATTORNEYS Patented ct. 22, 1929 Pre LOUIS KOBASI-I, OF MfllPLESI-IADE, NEW' JERSEY AIRS`UPIPLY-REG-ULATING VALVE Application led February 7, 1925.

This invention, generally stated, relates to artificial ice making and has more especial relation to means for regulating the supply of air to the freezing cans.

The leading object of the present invention may be said to resi-de in the providing of valved means for automatically shutting olf the supply of air to freezing cans when the connect-ion between the source of air supply and said cans is disconnected.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of general details of construction and arrangement and combination of parts for attaining the results sought by said leading object.

Other and further objects not at this time more particularly referred to will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter described and nally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which:

Fig. 1, is a. fragmentary View in section, illustrating a valve structure embodying features of the invention and shown as being attached to a branch air supply pipe.

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary view in section, of the right hand side of Fig. 1 and illustrating a slightly modifie-d form of valve structure.

Fig. 3, is a fragmentary view in section, taken at right angles to Fig. 1, and illustrating a further modified form of valve structure.

Fig. 1, is a fragmentary view in section, of a modication of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5, is a fragmentary view in section, illustrating a single coupling provided with my novel valve struct-ure and shown as attached to a branch air supply pipe.

Fig. 6, is a view in section, illustrating a valve structure of the preferred form of the invention.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention 1 have shown in the accompanying drawings several forms thereof which are at present preferred by me, since the same have been Serial No. 7,469.

found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various .instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instruinentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is shown connecting an air tube 8 with an air supply pipe a rubber tube 9. One end of each tube 9 may be fitted to a metal T-union 10 having an angular air passage therethrough and communicating with the branch pipe 6. rlhe opposite end of each tube 9 may be fitted to enter union 11 which is fitted to an air tube within a freezing can not shown in the drawings. Each T-union 10, see Fig. l, is provided with a central interiorly disposed pin 12 above the inlet opening 13 of the T- union. W ithin each T-union 10 are arranged valves in the form of a pair of balls 11i. Norinally these balls 14 rest against the central pin 12 which prevents said balls from falling into the inlet port 13 of the T-union as clearly shown in Fig. 1. lVith the pressure of air passing through the air supply pipe 6 the valves move from their seats but cannot close the ports 16 of nozzles 17, because of the pins 18. However, should the nipples 1'? be reioved from the "lunion 10 the balls 1-1 then will be forced to close the openings in the plugs 19 at the ends of the 'lunion and thereby prevent waste of air from the supply pipe 6.

A modiiied form of construction is disclosed in Fig. '2, in which the nozzle 17 of the T-union 10 is projected through the plug 19 and is provided with air openings 2O at the inner end thereof. By this construction, if a ball is accidentally forced against the end of the nozzle 17 air may still pass to a freezing can although if the nozzle 17 be removed, the ball 14 closes the open end of the plug 19 to prevent egress of air.

A further modified form of construction is disclosed in Fig. 3, in which the T-union is designated 21 and the vertical central pin 22. rlhe lower or tapered end of the T-union is designated 23 and is fitted to a hollow plug 24 Which in turn is screw threaded to an air supply pipe 6. A horizontally dis posed pin 25 is arranged in the plug to normally support a ball valve 26. In this case removal of T-union 21 allows air pressure to close the central opening 27 of plug 24, the vertical pin 22-normally tending` to keep the ball free of said opening 27.

Fig. 4, shows a modified construction in which the central pins are omitted from T-union 21, and the tapered portion 23 of the T-union is provided at its lower portion With a plurality of openings 28 so that even though the ball valve 26 closes the central opening 27 of the tapered portion 23, air may still pass through the openings 28. Of course, if the T-union 21 is removed the ball valve 26 closes the opening 27 of the plug.

Referring now to Fig. 5, an L-union 29 is employed upon a supply pipe 6. A ball valve 30 is prevented from escape by means of a vertical pin 31. Obviously When a nozzle 17 as shown in Fig. 1 is attached to the .plug 32 the pin 18k of such nozzle permits free flovv of air, but with removal of such nozzle, air pressure forces the ball valve 30 to close port 33 of said plug 32.

Referring novv to the preferred form of valve as shown in Fig. 6, the T-union 10 is provided at each end With plugs 42 each having a cylindrical passage 43 therethrough, adapted to accommodate the cylindrical stem 44 of a T-shaped nipple 45. The end of the stem 44 is adapted to project inwardly beyond shoulder 46 of plug 42 so as to maintain ball 14 free ofsaid plug opening as. shown at the right hand side of Fig.` 6. The end of the stem 44 is notched at 47 to permit air to pass to T-union 11 of an ice can through rubber tube 9 and a nozzle 48 which is an exact counterpart of nozzle 45. Should but one ice can be employed at a time the opposite end of T-union 10 will be closed by ball 14 being forced against the i shoulder 46 of plug 42 to close passage 43.

It Will be understood that by removal of stem 44 at the right hand side of Fig. 6, the passage through the plug at that end of the T-union 10 is closed by ball 14. It is also apparent that the tube 9 with its duplicate nozzles 48 may be fitted to either end of T-unions 10-11.

It Will noW be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description and While I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiments thereof Which have been found in practice to give satisfactory and'reliable results, it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars Without v departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A device of the character stated, comprising an air supply pipe, a T-union connected to said pipe, said T-union having a central inlet and oppositely disposed outlet ports, a central ball spacer fixed to the top of said T-union and depending thereinto in alignment with said inlet port, a pair of balls Within said T-union one upon each side of said spacer and prevented from escape through the inlet port by said spacer, nipples for conduct-ing air from said T-union removably secured to said outlet ports, and pins carried by said nipples and extended horizontally into said T-union for normally preventing seating of said balls in said outlet ports.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

LOUIS KOBASH. 

